Fair Plain, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Fair Plain is an unincorporated community in Berrien County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. It is a census-designated place
(CDP) for statistical purposes and has no legal status as a municipality. The population of the CDP was 7,828 at the 2000 census.
The Fair Plain CDP consists of the portion of St. Joseph Charter Township
lying north of the St. Joseph River
and a portion of Benton Charter Township
. The CDP's boundaries are the City of Benton Harbor
to the north, the St. Joseph River to the west and South, and M-139
to the east. Local spelling of the name is often "Fairplain".
Fair Plain was largely an agricultural area with fruit orchards in the 19th and early 20th centuries until it evolved into a residential area. The post-WW II years saw the construction of many homes in Fair Plain and the movement of many families from the nearby City of Benton Harbor to Fair Plain. To this day, many large old farm houses and barns can be found in Fair Plain, primarily on or near Fairplain Avenue and Jakway Avenue. Miami Drive is one of the most prestigious streets in Fair Plain with many large stately homes on large lots overlooking the St. Joseph River.
Until the mid-1960s, Fair Plain had its own school district with a Junior High School (7th through 9th grades) and four elementary schools - Fair Plain West, Fair Plain East, Fair Plain Northwest and Fair Plain Northeast. The boundaries between the four elementary schools were the cross-roads of Colfax Avenue and Napier Avenue. Before it was expanded and the four elementary schools built, the Junior High School building was known as Fair Plain Central. The mascot of the Junior High School was the Colt and the school song was "Onward Fair Plain" played to the tune of "On Wisconsin." In the mid-1960s, the Fair Plain School District, together with others, was consolidated into the School District of the City of Benton Harbor.
A notable stately home in Fair Plain is the "Elisha Gray" home on Nickerson Avenue. Fair Plain is also the home of the WHFB-AM
/FM
radio station on Fairplain Avenue and the Berrien Hills Golf Club on the banks of the St. Joseph River.
The Fairplain Plaza, located on M-139 just outside of Fair Plain, was the first shopping center in the area. The original Fairplain Plaza was largely torn down by the late 1990s, but was subsequently rebuilt and expanded in a different format.
, the CDP has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²), of which, 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (5.39%) is water.
of 2000, there were 7,828 people, 3,287 households, and 2,116 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 1,860.2 per square mile (717.9/km²). There were 3,436 housing units at an average density of 816.5 per square mile (315.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 49.08% White, 47.42% Black or African American
, 0.46% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races
, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.67% of the population.
There were 3,287 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples
living together, 17.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $37,154, and the median income for a family was $45,950. Males had a median income of $34,524 versus $24,043 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $20,344. About 10.8% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.5% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Berrien County, Michigan
Berrien County is a county located in the extreme southwest of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 156,813. The county seat is St. Joseph....
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It is a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) for statistical purposes and has no legal status as a municipality. The population of the CDP was 7,828 at the 2000 census.
The Fair Plain CDP consists of the portion of St. Joseph Charter Township
St. Joseph Charter Township, Michigan
St. Joseph Charter Township is a charter township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,042 at the 2000 census. The township is on the shores of Lake Michigan in the west central portion of the county, south of and adjacent to the City of St. Joseph. The Village of...
lying north of the St. Joseph River
St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan)
The St. Joseph River is a river, approximately long, in southern Michigan and northern Indiana in the United States. It drains a primarily rural farming area in the watershed of Lake Michigan...
and a portion of Benton Charter Township
Benton Charter Township, Michigan
Benton Charter Township is a charter township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2000 census, the township population was 16,404.-Communities:...
. The CDP's boundaries are the City of Benton Harbor
Benton Harbor, Michigan
Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan which is located west of Kalamazoo. The population was 10,038 at the 2010 census. It is the lesser populated of the two principal cities included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a...
to the north, the St. Joseph River to the west and South, and M-139
M-139 (Michigan highway)
M-139 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan, entirely within Berrien County. It was formed originally as a bypass of the Benton Harbor and St...
to the east. Local spelling of the name is often "Fairplain".
Fair Plain was largely an agricultural area with fruit orchards in the 19th and early 20th centuries until it evolved into a residential area. The post-WW II years saw the construction of many homes in Fair Plain and the movement of many families from the nearby City of Benton Harbor to Fair Plain. To this day, many large old farm houses and barns can be found in Fair Plain, primarily on or near Fairplain Avenue and Jakway Avenue. Miami Drive is one of the most prestigious streets in Fair Plain with many large stately homes on large lots overlooking the St. Joseph River.
Until the mid-1960s, Fair Plain had its own school district with a Junior High School (7th through 9th grades) and four elementary schools - Fair Plain West, Fair Plain East, Fair Plain Northwest and Fair Plain Northeast. The boundaries between the four elementary schools were the cross-roads of Colfax Avenue and Napier Avenue. Before it was expanded and the four elementary schools built, the Junior High School building was known as Fair Plain Central. The mascot of the Junior High School was the Colt and the school song was "Onward Fair Plain" played to the tune of "On Wisconsin." In the mid-1960s, the Fair Plain School District, together with others, was consolidated into the School District of the City of Benton Harbor.
A notable stately home in Fair Plain is the "Elisha Gray" home on Nickerson Avenue. Fair Plain is also the home of the WHFB-AM
WHFB (AM)
WHFB is a U.S. radio station dually licensed to the Twin Cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, Michigan, broadcasting a talk radio format....
/FM
WHFB-FM
WHFB-FM is a radio station licensed to Benton Harbor, Michigan, broadcasting a country music format and targeting the South Bend, Indiana market...
radio station on Fairplain Avenue and the Berrien Hills Golf Club on the banks of the St. Joseph River.
The Fairplain Plaza, located on M-139 just outside of Fair Plain, was the first shopping center in the area. The original Fairplain Plaza was largely torn down by the late 1990s, but was subsequently rebuilt and expanded in a different format.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²), of which, 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (5.39%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7,828 people, 3,287 households, and 2,116 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,860.2 per square mile (717.9/km²). There were 3,436 housing units at an average density of 816.5 per square mile (315.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 49.08% White, 47.42% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.46% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.67% of the population.
There were 3,287 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 17.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $37,154, and the median income for a family was $45,950. Males had a median income of $34,524 versus $24,043 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $20,344. About 10.8% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.5% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.